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Pattern mixing, wearing two or more patterns together in one outfit, is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you have a creative, bohemian, romantic or arty element to your style, you’ll probably appreciate the effect. If you prefer your outfits to look extra clean and crisp, you’ll probably prefer very subtle forms of pattern mixing, if at all.

It is far more common to pair one print with solids or with false plains (textured solids that give the illusion of a solid when they’re actually made of varying colours of interwoven threads, like tweeds and small check designs). But combining patterns can be fun too and there are ways of achieving a harmonious look.

Here are two guidelines to get you headed in the right direction if you’re new to the world of pattern mixing:

Choose patterns in a similar colour palette: It’s amazing how well the same colours in different patterns can work together, especially if they’re in a similar fabrication. The classic example is mixing black and white jailbird stripes with black and white polka dots.

Choose a dominant pattern and a supporting pattern: Dominant patterns can work together, but choosing one dominant pattern and one supporting pattern is a more flop proof approach. That way the patterns aren’t competing for attention. For example, match a bold geometric pattern with a dainty polka dot. Match a bold floral design with a false plain like a micro check/gingham or glen plaid. Match an abstract pattern with a subtle pinstripe. In these examples the dainty polka dot, the glen plaid and the pinstripe are the supporting patterns.

These are the first steps to effective pattern mixing. For advanced techniques and inspiration, check out Audi and Kasmira’s outfits. These stylish ladies successfully mix their patterns in much more daring ways.

For my own style, I like to play with different textures and false plains instead of mixing too many patterns together. I do enjoy combining a pinstripe blazer or a monotone polka dot with just about any other pattern, and today I’m wearing a Burberry scarf with a black and white animal print cardigan. But that’s about as creative as I get in this department. Do you like the effects of pattern mixing? Is this an dressing skill that you would like to learn?

I love pattern mixing but my style is both eclectic and romantic. For example I have a tulip skirt which is navy with large scale pale blue and magenta roses. I really like to pair it with a simple navy top and my leopard print heels. Both prints have rich colours and evoke a decadent feeling so match in a more abstract way.

I would also pair the skirt with a navy and white jailbird stripe top, or a blue oxford shirt with a blue and white very fine stripe.

I guess I follow the rules 90% of the time but I’m a little more eccentric the remainder of the time.

I’d love to try this – these rules are great as it gives me somewhere to start from. I will definitely give this a go when I’ve thought about it a bit more. I’m really wowed by those amazing outfits from Audi and Kasmira!

I have a more minimalist style so I barely wear pattern let alone mix it! I do love the look on other people though and Target’s Liberty of London stuff (not the clothes but EVERYTHING ELSE!) has a bad habit of hopping in the cart and coming home with me. Its funny, I dress minimal but decorate eclectic (Mid Mod and Primitive Country w/ lots of color!) -there is probably a psych study in there somewhere!

I’d like to do some more subtle pattern mixing with my outfits – most likely with accessories like a scarf. Since the minimalist 90’s were my formative fashion years, excessive layering or pattern mixing is just not for me though I really enjoy the look on others.

I haven’t tried much pattern mixing. It’s a little daunting, plus, I’m limited in that I really don’t like most patterns by my face (stripes being an exception). I’m not sure why that is, but I just rarely like the way it looks on me.

I love the look of pattern mixing but rarely do it myself- mainly because I don’t own enough patterned items! There is one look I’ve been wanting to try but haven’t worked up the guts yet: CM black-and-white microchecks with my black-and-white striped turtleneck (also from CM). Both are loud patterns but the stripes would definitely look dominant, and I think the simple colour scheme would work. Would likely do black shoes and a black blazer to tone down the crazy.

More than any of the above rules I like to mix patterns based on their “attitude.” I like to mix conservative suit-y pinstripes with large playful polkadots, or big bold jailbird stripes with glen plaid. Of course when I say “I like to” do this, it doesn’t mean that I actually do. Like Ele, I am lacking in patterned pieces, let alone those that will work together.

I love the look on others, but when it comes to mixing patterns I generally follow your rule of thumb Angie. I love a great glen plaid trouser with a floral top, or a pinstripe blazer over a polka dot top, but I’ve never mixed two bolder patterns. It isn’t my style.

Honestly, this is a skill I don’t think I could ever master effectively. I’d feel ok with *very subtle* approaches, like pin stripes or microchecks with something else, but likely no more than that. Not only is this a highly-visual arena in which I really don’t think I’d excel, it doesn’t suit my style preferences. That said, I love how-to posts like this, Angie. Guides like this one, as well as your recent poka dot primer and white bottoms walk-through, are probably my favourite type of YLF post!

Welcome home whenever you make it back, btw, your trip has sounded fabulous.

My style is as un-romantic and un-boho as it gets, so I´m not reallly into it. Like you, Angie, I mix pinstripe blazers with patterns, but that´s it.

Pattern-mixing to me is art, not real life. I love it on pictures in Vogue and on the runway, and Audi and Kasmira look amazing on the photos – but honestly, if I ran into them on the bus, I´d think that it must have been very dark in their dressing room this morning…;)

It all sounds interesting and I like to see the more extroverted mixers out there, but personaly I’m more in line with the subtle pin stripe jacket and a barely there plaid on the shirt type.
Now, going back to Kasmira saying that she puts her patterned clothes together and imagines they are in one garment, that is genious, and I might try it. Not that I have any patterns to try it with. I’m more into mixing textures at the moment. I’ll keep my eyes open for patterns I might be able to work with. Jailbird stripes are totally out of the question.

I am going to mix patterns soon! I just want to Daffy’s (the East Coast’s discount store) and got some great work appropriate stuff that is patterned, but hopefully not overwhelming. They are not the same dominant color, but both contain black. Thanks for this post, Angie!

Thanks for the love, Angie! As you’re well aware, I adore mixing patterns; it’s a great way to get adventurous with your wardrobe. Kasmira is a master; she has definitely given me a lot of inspiration.

This is such an informative post and will help give many of us confidence to try some pattern mixing. On a recent trip with a small carry-on case I felt that some Sweet Pea tops with patterns (bold swirl, winter floral) and a graphic tee mixed successfully with a pair of pin-striped pants and an Ann Taylor jacket with a fine weave of black and cream that looks grey from a distance. I also find polka dots one of the easiest patterns to mix with others, especially if the dot is small and even.

I love the look of pattern mixing when done well, but I don’t consider myself good at it myself. Or maybe it’s lack of practice – I rarely do it. I recently complimented Sihaya on it – she wore different patterns of black & white together and it looked real funky and good. I guess I’m just persuading myself to try this a little more often

I’m a big fan of pattern mixing except for the mix of multiple bold patterns. I find myself doing it more and more lately. My mixes are in the one bold one subtle range, but at this point, I don’t even consider stripes and polka dots a pattern. They feel like a solid to me since I use them so much. I also like using fabric folds as patterns. Today I had hard time finding a necklace to pair with my ruffled top since it has an even more strong effect than some bold patterns.

I love the look of subtle pattern mixing. I love when men’s tie pattern contrast with the shirt pattern… in subtle colors. I am not a fan of anything too loud and in your face mixing of bold and loud colors and patterns.

This is likely not a skill I am willing to master probably because I am not a fan of prints, but I really admire the skill and attitude it takes to pull it off successfully:)

I have started pattern mixing, but I do make sure the patterns are within the same color family. For example, I have mixed a black and white houndstooth jacket with a red and black polka dot top. I think it works!

The only pattern mixing I’ve attempted is pinstripe or glen plain with black and white geometric print. There is not much room for experimenting since I own very few patterned items, but I am hoping to expand my collection. I am on a lookout for polka dots in particular.

Thank you, Angie, this is very helpful! I’m trying to learn how to do this because I have accumulated many patterned pieces in various colors. I’m of two minds on this: I can’t resist an interesting pattern, and at the same time I really like clean and crisp lines and minimal pattern mixing. As a result I’ve put myself on a temporary pattern ban – except for stripes and polka dots, hehee!

I’m not huge fan of mixing bold patterns. I like one dominant and one subtle pattern ok and do that some. But then, I also like one bold accessory peer outfit, one bold color… ha ha I am seeing a pattern in my preferences.

What a great post! I like the look, and I do it occasionally. When I am really brave, I will even mix three patterns ( such as pinstripe, polka dot and argyle), but all have to be very neutral in a black/grey/cream palette. Most of the time , I will do a false plain with a real pattern.

Audi has a very ecceletic style as she not only pattern mixes but mixes clothing shapes. It works on her slender shape. I like the look on her very much. Kashmiri mixes patterns shapes and adornment details. I feel that most of the time her outfits work but there is usually a lot going on and the look is very busy. With that said I really like her look. It works on her fantastic hourglass figure.
On me I would look like a homeless person I think it is because I have a larger bone structure so layering has to be very minimal. But I do like to subtley mix patterns.. it makes the outfits every so interesting without shouting.. clown! Angie’s rules about mixing patterns are a great guide.